The text reflects the flawed positions of the EU and US and fails to deliver the legal tools and freedom to operate for governments and manufacturers to expand the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. This is not what South Africa and India advocated for their people and the entire developing world.

This is not what South Africa and India advocated for their people and the entire developing world

As public sector trade unions, we add our voice to the range of personalities, from economists to public interest advocates, who have written to President Ramaphosa and Minister Patel sharing similar views: to reject the DG's text.

PSI’s Regional Sectary for Africa & Arab Countries Sani Baba Mohammed states: "Africans need their independence and freedom to develop, manufacture and use vaccines. We need to put people over profit, as the choice we are given is to live or perish. The purpose of the TRIPS waiver is to ensure health equity and we demand access to life-saving technology and knowledge. We reject any compromise that maintains the status quo.

As the WTO MC12 starts on Sunday 12 June, we call on President Ramaphosa to stand firm in his rejection of this proposal.